Trapped in red tape

The fate of the much hyped Cyber City project like the Smart City project is hanging in the balance. Opposition from various constituents of the LDF is the main hurdle before the project which promised to generate 60,000 direct and 1,50,000 indirect jobs. Irregularities in land deals were the first obstacle. Later the court upheld the deals in which HMT land was sold to Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), a subsidiary of Bluestar Realtors. After that the company decided to revive the project. Following the court verdict the company made it clear that the project would commence immediately with minor changes in the design. But while disposing of the case the court said that the land sold should be used for IT purposes only. Now the officials with the HDIL say that it will take three more months for the project to take off. The State Government, especially the Industry Department, was taking an effort to clear the route for major IT and other endeavours. For this the State Government had decided to float a single window clearance system for giving approval for such projects. But that didn’t materialise due to the opposition from various constituents in the ruling front. The company had earlier submitted a proposal before the State Government for getting special economic zone (SEZ) status for the land. The government’s stand was that approval could be given if the court verdict was in the company’s favour. Bluestar Realtors had planned an integrated IT township with residential apartments, villas, schools, shopping malls, multiplex, club house, service apartments and a star hotel. But the court’s verdict that the land should be used only for industrial purpose has necessitated some major changes in their plan. After this the company submitted a fresh proposal before the State Government.